Tip helps cops foil playground bomb plot

A tip Wednesday led lawmen to foil an Evans man's twisted plan to bomb his own family members and children on the playground at the Evans Elementary School, using improvised explosive devices loaded with gunpowder, nails, BBs, ball bearings and bolts.

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By Greg Matics

Jackson Newspapers - Ripley, WV

By Greg Matics

Posted Jun. 27, 2014 at 8:46 AM

By Greg Matics
Posted Jun. 27, 2014 at 8:46 AM

Evans, WV

A tip Wednesday led lawmen to foil an Evans man's twisted plot to bomb his own family members and children on the playground at the Evans Elementary School, using improvised explosive devices loaded with gunpowder, nails, BBs, ball bearings and bolts.

Blake Ryan Garnes, 20, of Evans, has been charged with felony terroristic threats and possession an incendiary device, after a homemade bomb was discovered and dismantled at the home her shared with his grandmother about a mile from the Evans school playground that he allegedly planned to target.

Jackson County Sheriff's Department Detectives Ross Mellinger and Eric Cullen followed up on the tip and received information that Garnes had manufactured an explosive device from scratch and allegedly planned to create others to bomb the playground, specifically with children present, and the homes of some of his own family members. Garnes allegedly was trying to decide on a fuse or some other detonating device to make his improvised incendiary device ready for use.

Information received by Mellinger and Cullen stated that Garnes was allegedy emotional disturbed and had been previously been hospitalized for treatment of mental/psychological issues. According to a witness, Garnes harbored hatred for law enforcement and his own family, allegedly talked often about "killing things" and "killing people" and allegedly abused alcohol and/or marijuana daily. The witness believed Garnes was capable of denoting his bomb and carrying out his plans.

On Thursday at around 10:25 a.m., Mellinger, Cullen, Kananwh County Sheriff's Department bomb squad members, FBI and ATF agents, and Ripley and Ravenswood police officers descended on the Evans home where Garnes residence with a search warrant.

Mellinger and Cullen located Garnes nearby and detained him. Garnes allegedy admitted to making the bomb and told the officers where it was hidden. Bomb squad technicians dismantled the device.

Investigators also found numerous notes handwritten by Garnes, detailing his fascination with death, misery and killing people and children.

During an interview by Mellinger at the JCSD headquarters, Garnes allegedly admitted to handcrafting the bomb and said he enjoyed pain. He alleged said he has been fascinated by explosives since he was young and had daily dreams/nightmares about killing people and death. He also alleged said he has given great thought recently about how he would detonate his bomb.

Garnes remains lodged in the South Central Regional Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond.